The Eight Great Sign Miracles of John

Liberty University BIBL 323

Susan C. Richardson

2/21/2010

Great Sign Miracles

Abstract

In the book of John we find eight great sign miracles that inspire us to look to Christ, believe and

live. All of these miracles point to the deity of Christ through His power over creation, space,

time, food, natural laws, physical laws and death. Each has a significant story that accompanies it

that shows Christ’s love and compassion for those He encounters.

Great Sign Miracles

The Great Sign Miracles of John

In the book of John we see the record of eight great sign miracles that reveal Christ’s deity. In

verses 20:30-31 we see that these miracles are recorded for a specific purpose; “that ye might

believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His

name”. The first recorded miracle is His turning water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana as

related in John 2:2-11.

The miracle at Cana expresses Christ’s deity by showing His power over nature by creating wine

for the assembly. As the Written Word begins with creation in the book of Genesis so the

ministry of the Incarnate Word begins with a creative act. The scripture states that Jesus and His

disciples were invited to a wedding feast at Cana. After arriving at the feast the wine supply

failed. Mary, Jesus’ mother informed Him of the dilemma. He addressed her politely but asks

what concern was that of either of them. He then states “Mine hour is not yet come”. There is

much scholarly debate as to His meaning of this statement but Mary then turns and instructs the

servant to obey Jesus. Jesus then commands the servants to fill six water pots with water and

then draw from the pots and bear it to the governor of the feast. When the wine was tasted it

proved to be of exceptional quality and the governor complimented the bridegroom by asking

why he had left the good wine until now.

Great Sign Miracles

The next miracle recorded in John exhibits Christ’s supremacy over space. By healing a young

boy sight unseen Jesus declared His deity and allowed the nobleman and his whole house to be

saved. In John 4:46-54 Jesus has just returned to Cana and He is met by a nobleman whose son

was at the point of death. The nobleman beseeches Jesus to return with him and heal his son.

Instead of returning with the man Jesus instructs him to go his way because his son is healed. On

his way home the nobleman is met by his servants who told how the boy had become well. When

asked about the time of the recovery it was made known that it was at the very time Jesus had

spoken the word. Due to this miracle the household of the nobleman believed.

John 5:1-15 tells an interesting story that shows Christ’s deity by his power over time. A man is

healed after being infirmed for thirty-eight years. On the Sabbath, during a certain feast Jesus

came to the pool of Bethesda. According to popular thought of the day, any person in need of

healing might wait for an angel to trouble of the waters of the pool. When the water was stirred

the first person entering it would be made well. Jesus found a totally hopeless and helpless man

who had been lame for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked him if he would be made whole. The man

answered that he had no man to help him into the pool. Christ commanded that he rise, take up

his bed and walk. Because of this miracle on the Sabbath, Christ established His authority to

work on that day making Himself equal with the Father. (Dobson, Feinberg, Hindson, Kroll, &

Wilmington, 1999)

In John 6:1-14 we see the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels, the feeding of the five

thousand. This miracle declares Christ’s deity by revealing His power to supply necessary food.

In other Gospels we find out that this miracle occurs near Bethsaida and Christ is said to have

great compassion toward the multitudes. After a long day of preaching the crowd was hungry.

Christ tests Philip’s faith by asking him if they had bread for the people to eat. Philip states that it

Great Sign Miracles

would take two-hundred day’s wages to provide each one with just a little. Andrew soon brings a

small boy to Jesus who has five small barley loaves and two small fishes. Andrew recognizes the

insufficiency of such a small amount among so many. Christ commands the people to sit down.

He then gives thanks, breaks the bread, multiplying it so everyone can eat their fill and even

provided for the collection of the leftovers.

Jesus walking on the water was a powerful sign of His omnipotence over natural laws. John

6:15-21 gives this account. As soon as the events surrounding the feeding of the five thousand

had ended the people were so convinced of Christ’s being that prophet told of in Deuteronomy

that they were ready to make Him king by force. Since Christ’s kingdom is not of this world He

went into a mountain to be alone. The disciples then put out to sea, it being already dark, when a

severe wind blew up. They rowed about twenty-five to thirty furlongs and were a good way out

to sea. At this time they see Jesus walking toward them on the water. The so-called laws of

nature were entirely suspended. He who is the author of these laws can do as it pleaseth Him

(Gaebelein, 1936). Above the noise of the tempest the disciples heard the voice of the Master

telling them “It is I; stop being afraid” (Dobson, Feinberg, Hindson, Kroll, & Wilmington, 1999).

The scripture states that immediately the ship was at the land. The King James Bible

Commentary relates that “Christ demonstrated His power over gravity (walking on water), over

the storm (stilling the winds), and over space (bringing the ship to land).”

Triumph over physical laws was another way Christ manifest His deity. In John 9:1-12 we see

the incident of Christ healing the blind man. Jesus passed by the way where a blind man was and

the disciples ask who has caused this blindness by sinning. Was it the blind man or was it his

parents who caused him to be born this way? Jesus replied that neither had sinned but it was so

that the works of God could be made manifest. Jesus then spat on the ground and made clay with

Great Sign Miracles

the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes. He then commanded the man to go wash in the pool of

Siloam and return to Him. He obeyed and came again seeing. ”. One commentator states, “Here

in forming clay with spittle, we have a reminder that He once formed man out of the dust of the

earth and that He has therefore the power to heal one born blind”. (Gaebelein, 1936)

Towns relate that “in the context of this chapter, this man’s physical sight was the first step

toward his spiritual sight.

The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead shows Christ’s supremacy over death. Only God

can raise a person from the dead, especially one already dead for three days. This miracle is

recorded in John 11:1-44 and begins with Lazarus sisters sending word to inform Jesus of their

brother’s condition. Jesus stated that the end result of this sickness was not death and he delayed

his coming to their aid for another two days. After that time he announced His desire to return to

Judea. The disciples recalled the recent attempts to stone Jesus and did not want to go back.

Jesus informed the disciples that Lazarus as “sleeping” and he needed to go and awaken him.

The disciples completely misunderstood what Jesus was saying and thought He was speaking of

natural rest. Jesus then put it frankly, “Lazarus is dead”. When Jesus arrives a little way from

town Martha comes out to greet Him stating that if He had been there her brother would not have

died (11:21). She then added “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God

will give it thee” (11:22). Jesus then tells her, her brother will rise again to which, Martha states

she believes he will at the resurrection at the last day. Jesus then uses the fifth “I Am” statement

recorded in the book of John. He says “I am the resurrection and the life”. She then professes

Him to be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus arrives at the house and asks where they have laid

Lazarus body. When Jesus arrived at the tomb He commanded that the stone be removed. Martha

was distraught and stated that by this time his body stank. Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I say to you

Great Sign Miracles

that if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?” The stone was taken away and

Jesus thanked God for hearing him. When he had finished His prayer He spoke with a loud

voice, “Lazarus, come forth”. Lazarus did come forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes,

his face bound with a napkin. Jesus then instructed them to loose him and let him go.

The last of the eight great miracles recorded in John is that of the miraculous catch of fish. This

account is found in John 21:1-11. Here we find evidence of Christ’s deity in His power over

creation, space, time, food, natural laws, physical laws, and death. The disciples, lead by Peter,

decide to go fishing. Even though they are properly equipped and went at the correct time of day

the disciples still catch nothing though they toil all night. Suddenly, the risen Christ, who had

triumphed over death, appears on shore and calls to them asking if they “have any meat”. When

they respond negatively He says for them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. When

they did so their catch was so great that they could not draw it in. At this point John tells Peter

that it is the Lord and Peter impetuously jumps in and swims ahead. The other disciples in a

smaller boat come to help bring the catch to land. Upon landing the Lord says to them, “Come

and dine” (21:12).

In these accounts we see the purpose of John’s writing. He communicates Christ through His

miracles and teachings so men might first, believe that Jesus is indeed who He said He was, the

Son of God; and second, they might have eternal life because of their belief (Towns, 1990).

Great Sign Miracles

Bibliography

Dobson, E., Feinberg, C. L., Hindson, E., Kroll, W., & Wilmington, H. L. (1999). King James

Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Gaebelein, A. C. (1936). Thwe Gospel of John. Wheaton: Van Kampen Press.

Henry, M. (1961). Matthew Henry's Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Corp.

Towns, E. (1990). The Gospel of John: Believe and Live. Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell Co.